Automobile top



Mayi 13, 1924. 1,493,808

B. H. COZ!NE yAUTOMOBILE TOP Filed' Feb. 1, 1919 2 sheets-sheer 1 May13, 1924. 4 1,493,808

B. H. COZNE AUTOMOBILE TOP Filed Feb. l, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il la )g5J7 l@ 53 CUYO/mung Patented May 13, 1924.

BENJAMIN H. COZINE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMOBILE TOP.

Application led February 1, 1919.

Zio all whom 'it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, BnNJAMiN H. CoziNn, a citizen o1' the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeierson and State of Kentucky,have invented new and useful Improvements, in Automobile Tops, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automobile top and more particularly tomeans for mounting curtains under a top or' usual construction, withguiding means, and means for returning the curtains to normal positionbeneath the top when not in use.

The object is to provide a structure which may be secured to the underside of a top of usual construction and which shall be inconspicuous andadapted for mounting a plurality of curtains which may be drawnoutwardly and then downwardly to the sides of the body, suitable guidingmeans being provided, said curtains being under control of elasticdevices designed to return them automatically to a normal position whenreleased at their lower edges from the sides of the body.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of elementshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view ot' the top, with the curtains drawn, andsecured to the side of the body.

Figure 2 is a section on the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a section on linel 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure t is a detail in perspective of an element referred to below.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section showing how the curtains are guidedinto position beneath the top, when not in use.

Figure 6 is a front view of a curtain with certain elements connectedtherewith.

Figure 7 shows the guiding devices for the curtain connected with thesurface of the body opposite to that shown in Figure 5-that is. to theouter surface.

Figure S is a sectional view in elevation of the yoke socket torsupporting the guide rods.

In carrying out my invention I pro-vide a central longitudinal stripdesignated 10 which may be secured to the under side of a top ot usualconstruction, and on either Serial N0. 274,391.

side ot the strip 10 are other strips designated 11 and 12 and spacedfrom strip 1() a suitable distance.

The strips referred to may be of wood, and metallic strips 13, 14, 15,and 16 are arranged beneath the outer edges of the top, and beneath thelatter the curtains are guided along the line where they are defiecteddownwardly into position for engaging the edges ot the body.

A plurality of transverse metallic strips are arranged at suitableintervals, a central strip being designated 1T and other strips beingshown at 18, 19, 20 and 21. These strips are connected at the points 25with the central strip and arranged for slight movement with referencethereto in order that the device may be adapted to the curvature of theusual type o1 car top 28. These members 17, 1S, 19 and 20 are alsoconnected with the other longitudinal strips. A sheet of suitablematerial designated 30 is mounted in the position shown and below 'thestructure above described.

The curtains operate trom opposite sides of strip 10 toward the outeredges of the top, two o1 these curtains oppositely located beingdesignated 31 and 32, eac-h having connection with a plurality ofelastic strips or bands 33 and 34 properly secured at their upper ends.The curtains themselves each comprise an outer portion of suitablematerial and a main or body portion of transparent material such as isusually employed for the openings in automobile curtains and the like. Arod or bar 35 extends along the lower edge of each curtain and isprovided with an eye portion at each end there-l of, these eyes beingdesignated 37 and 38 and being guided by means of a rod extending fromthe edge of the body to the upper structure previously described. Theserods comprise two parallel members-39 and 40 connected by a yoke portionor the like at their lower ends, the two elements of the device servingto guide the eye members of two adjacent curtains. The yoke portion isreceived within a socket 41 on the edge off the body, a suitableengaging device such as at 42 securing the parts together. These socketmembers may be covered by a suitable cap or the like. If the ends of therods are allowed to project directl into the brackets 41 (omitting theyokel, the openings in the brackets which would necessarily be providedfor the ends of the rods,

may be closed by headed pins 43 when the attachment is temporarilydispensed with.

Rods covered with any suitable material may be placed adjacent. eachpair ot rods 39. d0, as shown at 45 in Figure 3, in order tosecure asubstantially tight joint.

ln the form shown in Figure 7 the brackets 4l are attached to theopposite surface oit the side of the body, in order that the curtainsmay readily be secured by a per son inside of the vehicle.

Cords may be substituted bands tor raising the curtains.

W'hat is claimed is:

i. ln :i device ot the class descrilfied, a structure constituting anindependent detachable unilI and coniprising a plurality o iilongitudinal. and transverse members to be mounted beneath the top ot' avehicle, eurtains operating between certain ot the transverse membersand. certa-in ot tbe longitudinal members, elastic strips for mountingsaid curtains and permitting them to be drawn outwardly and downwardly'for atiachment to the sides ot the vehicle body, guiding means for thecurtains, means mounted on the sides ot' the vehicle for receiving thelower ends et the guiding means, and means for detachably securing theguiding means in the said receiving means.

2. ln a device ot the class described, a structure v,constituting anindependent detachable unit and comprising a plurality of longitudinaland transverse members to be` vfor elastic applied to the under side otthe top of a. vehicle, certain of the longitudinal members near theedges of the top being spaced apart and providing guiding spaces throughwhich the curtains may be passed, guiding devices extending from the topto the sides ot the body oftl the. vehicle, means carried by the body otthe vehicle tor rigidly and detachably supporting the guiding devices,curtains and guiding means carried by the lr'iwer edges ther-cotcooperating with the guiding devices, elastic strips connected with theside edges of the` curtains and with the upper structure, said curtainsbeing nioiurble laterally beneath the top, then downwardly intoapproximate contact with the sides ot the body.

:5. ln a device ot' the class ilescribed, a structure proportioned to beconnected with the under side ot' the top ot a vehicle, curtainsoperating transversely of said structure and mounted to be drawndownwardly therefrom, guiding members carried by the lower edges of thecurtains, a plurality of parallel bars between each two curtains 0n agiven side ot the vehicle, the guiding members cooperating with saidbars, means for connecting the bars with the sides ot the body, the barsbeing arranged in pairs, the bars ot' each pair being spaced apart, anda. third bar adjacent the bars ot each pair` tor preventing the entranceof air t ierebetween.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMN H. COZINE.

